Repositionable t-shaped back cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A T-shaped cleaning and massaging device adapted for mounting on the walls of a shower stall for cleaning and massaging a particular part of the user&#39;&#39;s back and quickly repositionable for cleaning and massaging another part of his back.

[ Aug. 7, 1973 United States Patent 1 Morgan 2,279,209 4/1942Snyder......... 3,264,657 8/1966 Khnkner 3,040,337 6/1962Fie1dstad,..... 2,740,150 4/1956 [22] Filed: 1971 Primary Examiner-LeonG. Machlin Attorneywarren F. B. Lindsley [21] Appl. No.: 195,575

[51] Int. A47k 7/02 [58] Field of Search 15/210 R, 209 R, 15/208, 160 R,118, 110, 244 A, 244 CH, 244 13,187,188, 231; 4/158, 184; 128/67 quicklyrepositionable for cleaning and massaging another part of his back.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,954,940 4/1934 4/184 4Claims, 5 Drawing Figures a k T 1 1 1 1L i fl i 4 m /L a 0/VW\.M s H H 285 4 1 HJ l K w i i kw r I I fl H/- s ow Car llxllzllr wfllllfillllqlllfllll MU TIINI P 1 E 1 IL I WI IL M 1 1 11 1!4 1 1|l|LlllREPOSITIONABLE T-SIIAPED BACK CLEANING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to back cleaning and massagingdevicesfor detachably mounting on the walls of a shower stall, and moreparticularly one of a particular geometrical configuration which ispositionable for cleaning and massaging a given part of the users backand repositionable for cleaning and massaging a different portion of hisback.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION It is particularly desirable to cleanse andmassage ones back when taking a bath or shower. In hotels, motels, innsand in the privacy of ones home, it is desirable to provide individualtowels, pads and the like for bathing purposes. Still, it is furtherdesirable to provide reusable, washable back cleaning and massagingdevices which may be readily cleaned.

One of the problems of the prior art was to provide such a back cleaningdevice which is effective for cleaning and massaging the shoulder areaas well as the small of the back and hip area with the same device withlittle or no inconvenience to the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is thegeneral purpose of this invention to provide a reusable, replaceableappealing back cleaning and massaging device of a particularconfiguration for use particularly in shower stalls, although not lirn-'ited thereto, which is readily mountedon a shower stall wall and quicklyrepositioned for cleaning and massaging various areas of the back.

It is, therefore, one'object of this invention to provide a novel devicefor cleaning and massaging a persons back.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clean-' ing andmassaging'device of a particular geometrical configuration which isrepositionable on a shower stall to easily and effectively cleanse andmassage different areas of a user's back.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved cleaningdevice for a users back which is easily cleaned after each use ordisposable at very little cost.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a T-shapedcleaning and massaging device which is positioned in a given positionfor cleaning and massaging the shoulders and then rotated 180 degrees frcleaning and massaging equally well the lips of a user.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a back cleaningdevice which holds soap and water solution for the proper cleaning of auser's back. I

A still further object of this invention is to provide a back cleaningdevice of a towel like material detach ably mounted on a shower stallwall which is inexpensive to manufacture,-rugged in construction andsimple in design.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention may be morereadily described by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of-a shower stall having mounted onone of its walls the novel back cleaning and massaging device disclosed;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a rightend view of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a back view of the device shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a modification of the backcleaning and massaging device shown in FIGS. 14.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly tothe drawing by'characters of reference, FIG. I discloses one embodimentof a back cleaning and massaging device 10 mounted on a wall 11 of ashower stall 12. Although device 10 is readily positionable on anysurface, it is shown mounted in the shower stall in a position to bereadily sprayed by the shower fixture head 13.

The back cleaning and massaging device 10 comprises a support surface 14which may be a pad of solid rubber or other suitable flexible materialsuch as cotton forming the backing of atowel. To thefront of surface l4is attached washing and massaging material 15 which in the form shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a layer of toweling tufts suitably attachedto support member or surface 14. In other words, device 10 may comprisea toweling material having its tufting material suitably formed forreceiving and holding moisture and soap in order to massage and cleanthe back of a user.

Although support surface 14 and the massaging material 15 may comprisetoweling material, this device may be formed of a layer of rubberforming the support surface 14 having a layer of rubber sponge materialattached thereto for absorbing and holding soap and water.

To the back of the supporting surface 14 is suitably attached aplurality of rubber suction cups 16 which detachably mount device 10 onthe shower wall 1]. The suction cups not only detachably mount device 10on the shower wall but also provide the means for spreading out andholding device 10in its pre-cut form. This is particularly desirablewhen the device is formed of a toweling material which will not hold aparticular geometrical configuration unless it is stretched out and heldin that position.

As shown in the drawing, the cleaning and massaging device is formed ofa toweling material of a T-shaped configuration having closely spacedtufts 17, the surface and body of which hold water and soap to beapplied to the body of a user while working and massaging the body.Since device 10 is of a T-shaped configuration it can be readily mountedon a shower wall with .the cross arm 18 of the T-shaped configurationextending above its leg 19 in a position to readily wash and massage theshoulders of the user. In this position the leg 19 of the device willcover, wash and massage the spinal area of the user.

In order to wash and massage the hip area of the user, the user merelyremoves the device from the shower wall, rotates it 180, and thenspreads the device out and presses the suction cups to the shower wall.The device, of course, is replaced on a lower portion of the shower wallto readily engage the user's hips for the hip cleaning and massagingaction.

Thus, a device has been provided which may be of a toweling materialthat is readily reused by merely washing as with any used towelingmaterial and reused over and over again. If desirable, the toweling mayhave a backing support surface formed of heavy toweling material or thesupport surface may be formed of a plastic or rubber or any othersuitable flexible material. If desired, the tufts may be formed ofarubber or plastic material. Foam rubber has been found satisfactory forreplacing tufts 18, but is not as easily cleansed.

It is particularly desirable in public use of the disclosed device touse a material which is eadily wash;

able, such as toweling material, so that the user in mo tels, hotels,inns and the like feels and knows that the device is clean; otherwise hemay ignore it and forego its benefits.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a modification of thecleaning and massaging device shown in FIGS. 1-4 wherein the supportmember and the tufts are formed of a foam rubber material.

Although but a few embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A back cleaning and massaging device comprising:

a support member of a T-shaped configuration,

a plurality of closely spaced tufts secured to one side of said supportmember over its entire T-shaped configuration and particularly adaptedto hold a soap and water solution, and

at least three suction cups fastened to the other side of said supportmember one at each end of said T- shaped configuration for removablyattaching said device to one of a plurality of positions on a wall of ashower stall.

2. The back cleaning and massaging device set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid support member and tufts comprise a toweling material.

3. The back cleaning and massaging device set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said support member comprises a resilient pad, and

said tufts are formed of a plastic material.

4. The back cleaning and massaging device set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said support member and tufts comprises a foam rubber material.

' :c a t a:

1. A back cleaning and massaging device comprising: a support member ofa T-shaped configuration, a plurality of closely spaced tufts secured toone side of said support member over its entire T-shaped configurationand particularly adapted to hold a soap and water solution, and at leastthree suction cups fastened to the other side of said support member oneat each end of said T-shaped configuration for removably attaching saiddevice to one of a plurality of positions on a wall of a shower stall.2. The back cleaning and massaging device set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid support member and tufts comprise a toweling material.
 3. The backcleaning and massaging device set forth in claim 1 wherein: said supportmember comprises a resilient pad, and said tufts are formed of a plasticmaterial.
 4. The back cleaning and massaging device set forth in claim 1wherein: said support member and tufts comprises a foam rubber material.